DECLARED PLANT
Bundy blackberry
Rubus laudatus
January 2015
Bundy blackberry is a semi-deciduous,
scrambling shrub with long tangled,
spiny canes that form dense thickets
reaching to several metres high.
Bundy blackberry is declared under the
Natural Resources Management Act
2004; its sale is prohibited and land
owners may be required to destroy
infestations.
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Other common names: American
blackberry, plains blackberry
Family: Rosaceae
Synonyms: Rubus ablatus
Origin: North America
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?
Bundy blackberry has similar weedy
properties to the European blackberries,
but is not affected by the leaf rust
biological control agent that has been
released in Australia.
 forms dense, impenetrable thickets
 outcompetes most understorey
plants and forms a monoculture that
degrades native vegetation and
pastures
 has canes with sharp thorns that
can cause injuries to people and
animals.
Peter Swart, http://www.plantweb.co.za/
DESCRIPTION
Habit: a scrambling, decumbent shrub to 3 m high.
Leaves: consist of 3-5 leaflets and are dark green on
top and have a lighter green underside (the underside
of European blackberry leaves are usually whitish).
Leaflet veins and stalks are lined with short, curved
prickles. Roots: are the perennial part of the plant,
comprising of woody crown, with a main root that
growing to a depth of 4 m and lateral roots which
produce fine roots in all directions. Stems: are known
as canes and can grow to 7 m long, covered in sharp
thorns. Flowers: white or pink, 2-3 cm in diameter
occurring at the end of the canes. Fruit: berry is 1-3
cm in diameter, progressing from green to red to black
on maturing. Each berry consists of fleshy segments
(druplets), and each druplet contains one seed.
HOW IT SPREADS
Bundy blackberry reproduces by seed, root suckers,
and layering, and is transported by birds, foxes, and
along waterways.
HABITAT
Bundy blackberry occurs in areas with fertile soils and
over 750 mm annual rainfall, and invades roadsides,
watercourses and streams, bushland and forests.
DISTRIBUTION
Bundy Blackberry is not yet recorded in South
Australia. It is naturalised in Western Australia,
Queensland and New South Wales.
For more information
Contact your local Natural Resources Centre for
information on controlling declared weeds:
www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au
Further weed control information is also available
at:
www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecuritysa
Disclaimer:
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Seek control advice if you have this weed. Select
alternative plants to replace invasive species. Read
‘Grow Me Instead’ for suggestions.
Rubus laudatus fruiting cane, thorn, fruit - Photographer, Gerrit
Davidse http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
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